State Directories Provide Offshore Wind Industry Roadmap

BOSTON — State officials looking to maximize the return on port investments in New Bedford and elsewhere on Tuesday released a report detailing 18 sites of interest for offshore wind energy developers, and 320 businesses that could shape a supply chain.

Six sites on the list are in New Bedford: the Eversource/Sprague Oil site, Hathaway Mills, New Bedford State Pier, the North Terminal, the Whale's Tooth Parking Lot and New Bedford Railyard, and the Revere Copper site.

The five sites in the Fall River/Somerset area include the Brayton Point Power Plant, the Montaup Power Plant, Weaver's Cove Energy Site, Fall River State Pier and the Borden & Remington Complex.

There are also seven sites in the Boston/Quincy/Braintree area, including the Boston Autoport and East Boston Shipyard, and the Quirk Auto parcel at the former Quincy Shipyard in Braintree/Quincy.

The supply chain directory features businesses specializing in cranes, tugboats, environmental research, and welding, concrete, steel and electrical services. The port assessment was commissioned by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center and prepared by Ramboll Environ, Apex Companies LLC, UMass Boston's Urban Harbor Institute, and Tufts University.

Massachusetts remains years away from offshore wind installations, which are involved in a lengthy procurement phase.

--Michael P. Norton, State House News Service